Dbying thick paper



E. & J. R. CUSHMAN.

.Pper Drer.

Patented Aug. 1, 1854.

QMNIU OONBD N KPN UNITED sTArns PATENT onirica. A

. E. CUSHMANANI) J. R. GUSHMAN, OF AYIEIIIRSL,` MASSACHUSETTS.

innYING THICK PAPER.`

`Specification of Letters Patent No. 11,411, dated August 1, 1854.

To all 'whom t may concern i y Be it known t-hat we, ErHnaiM CUSHMAN andJol-IN R. CUSHMAN, of Amherst, in the county of Hampshire and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Drying ThickPaper (Such as is Used by Bookbinders and for Making `Boxes and SimilarPurposes) in the Process of Making; `andiwe do hereby declare that thefollowing -is a full and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, Figure`1 being a plan o-f the machine; Fig. E2 avertical section thereof inthe,` line m of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 a vertical section of the same in theline 'y of Fig. l.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures. i

In the ordinary process of manufacturing the above mentioned kinds ofpaper, on account of the thickness of the sheetsand their liability towarp, it has been found impracticable to dry the paper properly, exceptby i placing the sheets on the ground in suitable weather during thesummer season, and'afterward subjecting them to pressure to restore themto shape, as otherwise they would warp so much as to make it impossibleto shape them. lConsequently the manufacturer is obliged to preserveconstantly in a damp state, all the paper madeat other I seasons of theyear till the next summer arrives, by sto-ring it away, before drying,

' in heaps where itwill be kept in a V.moist state'. The large amount ofstock thereby required to be kept on hand for months, rew quiringadditional outlay of capital, and the room required for fits storage,together with the greater labor, trouble and uncertainty ofmanufacturing make this. process inconvement, tedious and expensive.

The nature of our invention consists in Vdrying thick paper uniformlyand without ened or pointed so as to present no appreci` able surface ofcontact, which, as soon as the paper has become sufliciently hard by .Apartially drying, are let down upon the sheets and keep them in propershape till the process is completed, substantiallyin the 5 mannerhereinafter set forth.

form substantially as shown at d, Fig. 2; ,Each of these weights is of asize sufficient to cover a sheet of `paper to be dried; and isconstructed of a series of parallel and cross bars, similar to the barsof a grate or of lattice work, as represented in the drawings. Thesebars are of suficient thickness and depth to produce a 'weight heavyenough to keep the paper from warping. Their lower edges are sharpenedto an angle, as represented by the weights B, and' C, or notched topoints, as shown by the weight D, Figs. 2 and 3; so that no appreciablesurface of contact shall be presented to the sheets of paper, when letdown upon them', because, if, vthere should be such a contact that aportion of the paper should be eX- cluded from the atmosphere, it wouldbe impossible to'dry the paper uniformly. As soon as the paper, which atfirst is in a pulpy state, has dried suiiiciently to receive the weightswithout becoming injuriously indented by the edges or points thereof,said weights are let down upon the sheets, and in that position, preventthem from warping `till perfectly dried. The weights are then raised,and the sheets removed, to be sup-` plied by fresh sheets.

For the purpose of conveniently raising and lowering the weights, aframe work E, may be erected above the platform, and provided withpulleys e, e, overwhich cords, or chains, f, 7, attached to the severalweights, pass, as shown on the drawings. `Each of the weights isdescribed as composed of parallel and cross bars, which form is mostconvenient; but it is obvious that any other form of arrangement may beemployed, provided the under edges of the bars are sharpened or pointedsubstantially as described.

What we claim` as our invent-ion and desire to-secure by Letters Patent,is-

Our improved artificial process of drying thick paper and at the sametime preventing improved machine for drying paper signed it from warpingout of shape; to Wit; by and witnessed this 11th day of April 1854.placing the sheets in a pul. y state, upon EPHRAIM CUSHMAN. heatedtables or platforms an allowing them JOI-IN R CUSHMAN, 5 to remain untilthey harden to such a degree Witnesses to the signature of Ephraim as tobegin to Warp out of shape, and then Cushman: causing open, or lattice,Weights to be let I. N. HALL, dovvn upon them, which rest upon thinedges A. R. CUSHMAN. or points at different parts of the sheets, andWitnesses to the signature of John R. 10 preserve them in flat positionsuntil entirely Cushman: dry, substantially as herein set forth. l E.CUSHMAN, J r.,

The above specification of our new and L. MERRICK.

